D. Robert McCaffree

2025 Distinguished Alumni

B.S. Psychology '65

 

D. Robert McCaffree, MD, MSHA, Regents’ Professor of Medicine, Emeritus, is a Stillwater native, having grown up around the family drug store, McCaffree’s Campus Drug, which was located at 4th Street and Washington.  

 

When Bob entered OSU, he quickly became involved in many aspects of campus life, including joining Sigma Nu fraternity, co-chairing the Campus Chest drive, being a Senator from the CAS and, his senior year, being elected vice-president of the Student Association. Upon graduation, he was named as one of the Top Ten Graduates from the class of 1965.

 

Upon graduation from OSU, he entered the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine where he met Mary Anne Wight, the beginning of a beautiful life-long partnership in Medicine, medical leadership and public health advocacy. During his residency he was called to active duty in the Navy. Mary Anne joined him for her internship. After four years at the National Naval Medical Center, they returned to the OU College of Medicine where Bob finished his training in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine. They both joined the faculty (Mary Anne in Pediatrics) where they remained as professors for the remainder of their active careers.  

 

Bob served as Chief of Staff of University Hospital as well as the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. Upon retiring from the VA, the Medical ICU was named in his honor. 

 

He was President of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, the Oklahoma County Medical Society, the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and the CHEST Foundation. While President-elect of CHEST, he initiated a program to support local health programs in which CHEST members were involved. Thus far this program has provided over $10,000,000 of support to programs globally. He was the founding President of the Hospice of Oklahoma County and the Hospice Foundation of Oklahoma.

 

Bob was named to the inaugural Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund Board and was elected the first Chairman. He subsequently helped start the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center. He has provided testimony to the U.S. Congress, the Oklahoma legislature, the Colorado legislature and the City of Golden, Colorado, on tobacco issues. He recently completed his term on the North American Quitline Consortium board. He continues to be active fighting the scourge of tobacco and vaping.

 

Bob has been the recipient of many awards and recognitions including the OU College of Medicine Dean’s Award for Distinguished Medical Service, the Eusebius Beltran Catholic Charities Award for Community Service (both with Mary Anne) and the OSMA’s Deckert Award for Community Service. The Board Room at the Oklahoma State Medical Association is named for him and Mary Anne.

 

He and Mary Anne now live In Golden, Colorado. They have two children, Sara and Matthew, a daughter-in-law, Lilia Gerberg, and two grandchildren, Jayna and Max.